Get Guardian on Google• Experts seek resilient design for future cities
Architects have called for stronger mentorship, professional development and innovation to sustain the profession and prepare younger practitioners for emerging challenges.
In another development, industry experts, urban planners, architects and engineers have called for bold leadership, integrated planning and climate-resilient infrastructure to address the growing challenges of urbanisation and shape sustainable cities in Nigeria.
They made the call at the PrimeTech Day 2026 in Lagos, organised by the design and engineering subsidiary of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, PrimeTech Design and Engineering, where stakeholders examined how innovation, technology and human-centred design could help build inclusive and adaptable urban centres.
Speaking at the NIALSC Biennial General Meeting 2026 in Lagos, with the theme, “Preserving Our Legacy: The Past, the Present and the Future,” they urged architects to look beyond physical structures when considering their professional legacy.
Among the speakers, Brenda Unavworho emphasised the need to document architectural works and processes to provide younger practitioners with valuable learning resources.
On the growing influence of artificial intelligence, Unavworho urged young architects to strengthen their technical skills, professional judgement and integrity rather than rely solely on technology.
Similarly, Uduak Udoh, a partner at Consultant Collaborative Partnership, identified mentorship as essential to preserving the profession’s values and developing future practitioners.
He said practitioners must become more innovative and develop emotional intelligence to understand clients’ expectations while providing solutions that balance cost, quality and delivery time.
Meanwhile, at an event themed “Designing for the Future: Leadership, Resilience and the Cities We Need,” PrimeTech General Manager, Christian Moessmer, stressed the need to integrate architecture and engineering from the earliest stages of project development.
He noted that decisions made during the design phase determine the success and sustainability of infrastructure throughout its lifecycle.
He explained that though design represents a relatively small part of a project’s lifecycle, its influence extends to every subsequent stage, while early collaboration among professionals helps minimise costly adjustments during construction.
Moessmer also urged stakeholders to make resilience a fundamental consideration in urban development rather than an additional expense. He further called for stronger partnerships among government, professionals and private-sector investors to translate discussions about sustainable urban development into practical solutions, particularly in Lagos.
Earlier, Manager of PrimeTech Lagos, Joseph Abba, said good design should be assessed beyond aesthetics, stressing that functionality, operational costs and long-term value must guide decisions on buildings and infrastructure.
He observed that Lagos, with an estimated population exceeding 22 million, faces mounting pressure on housing, transportation, healthcare, education, energy and water infrastructure.
Other contributors, including the keynote speaker, Brig.-Gen. Tunde Reis (rtd), emphasised the need for a fundamental shift in how cities are planned and developed, stating that rapid urbanisation across Lagos and other African cities requires development strategies that go beyond expanding physical infrastructure to addressing the social, economic and environmental needs of residents.
